Pop ballad fails to impress Eurovision judges
Switzerland will not take part in the final of the 53rd Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade.
Swiss entrant Paolo Meneguzzi, a 31-year-old recording artist from Lugano in Ticino, failed to impress judges at Thursday's semi-final qualifier.
Meneguzzi's Italian pop ballad, Era Stupendo, was one of a record 43 acts competing for a place in the final on Saturday.
The song was markedly different from the Swiss entry last year by DJ Bobo - a Euro dance piece about vampires - which also fell at the first round.
Five countries qualified for the 25-act final automatically: Serbia as host, and Britain, France, Germany and Spain as they chip in the most money.
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